Alternatively

Pride Before the Fall

The ice is smooth and you breathe in deeply, lungs swelling with the cold. Your fingers aren't as deft as they used to be, but you had laced up your boots and shot out on the rink before he had both blades off the counter. You're wobbly, ankles threatening to cave one way or the other because you just couldn't wait for skates in your size, but a quick adjustment isn't anything you can't handle and soon?

Soon you'll find your rhythm.

Even with dozens of people flooding the ice, clinging to the walls and flinging their arms out for balance, you start to find your way again. It's not quite like riding a bike or remembering how to swim, but slowly, things start to flow back and you turn, gesturing for him to catch up.

He shakes his head and glides just as easily out of the gate and you narrow your eyes; he told you he had never skated before.

But it doesn't matter, you decide, digging your toe pick into the ice. You'll show him he's not the best at everything.

Even if you're not as stable as you thought you'd be.

Even if your ankles are still caving.

And maybe your pride got the best of you, because you aren't gliding anymore, you're stumbling. Your knees are already bruised and your palms bright red and your ass sore and soaked with melting snow. He's skating circles around you and you can't bear to look him in the eye.You're left alone, lost in throngs of other skaters.

Face burning, you join the novices on the wall, pretending to fix your boots again. After all that bragging, all your taunts and bets, you end up bleeding through your jeans and clinging to the rail. It should have been a sign when your friends refused to go skating with you, all afraid they would fall; you should have definitely stayed at home.

"What are you doing over here?"

You frown, tucking your laces in your boot. "Just taking a break, you can go back to doing...whatever you were doing."

"Did you want to leave, get hot chocolate?" he grins. "If you're tired of being shown up, that is."

"I'm much better, it's just-"

"Your boots, I know. Come on."

You grumble and follow him across the rink, reluctantly taking his arm when you nearly wipe out. It isn't off brand for him to tease you, so you shouldn't be as upset as you were. It's not a big deal.

It's really not.

"Maybe next week, we can rematch."

"Really?"

He glances down at you, pulling you across the gate. "I mean, if you're so sure you can actually beat me."

You blink, a smirk slowly spreading over your face. "I'll leave you in the dust."

"Just be patient and wait for skates in your size."

if anyone reads these things, I'd like input on what to work on next: a story about the characters at SAB as kids written as though it were a vlog and would be shifting who "holds the camera", a look into who babysat megan while percy and annabeth were busy (and be introduced to piper and jason's kids), or a cross country road trip with the core three friends in which percy is searching for something and grover is finding his purpose and annabeth is going to confront her mom for always sending letters but never trying to meet her in person (there will be a Sad with chiron in this).